King-size Bait Lands Large Catch

Nn Man Finds That Oversized Bait Works

May 03, 1992|By SKIP MILLER Daily Press

For almost 20 years, Rick Damon of Newport News pulled his share of largemouth bass from the Chickahominy River. He knew the habits and patterns and, like most Chickahominy regulars, he believed the river was a great place for shallow-water fishing for smaller bass. But not a good place for trophy-size fish.

Then he started reading some articles written by four-time Bassmasters Classic champion Rick Clunn.

For any fisherman, the accepted principle is big baits catch big fish. Clunn took that a step further. He believed big baits - spinnerbaits and crankbaits - catch more fish. Indeed, an oversized crankbait of his own design helped him catch the winning stringer of fish from the Chickahominy during the 1991 Bassmasters Classic.

This spring, Damon decided to give Clunn's theory a workout. In early April he showed up for the Peninsula Bassmasters Open, which was fished on the Chickahominy, armed with a bait that did more than raise an eyebrow or two. It generated a few hand-over-the-mouth snickers.

Damon had a 1-ounce Hawg Caller Spinnerbait equipped with a No. 8 willowleaf spinner. It was twice as big as the spinnerbaits normally used on the Chickahominy.

He used his big bait on a grass line he had found earlier in the year. ``I found the spot back in January,'' he said. ``I was only running about 3 or 4 feet down. I was slow-rolling the bait through that level.''

Without much success. Then the wind shifted to the south and ``blew the shad right onto the grass line.'' By the end of the day, Damon caught six largemouth that weighed a total of 26 pounds, 6 ounces. His biggest weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Another weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

He has used the oversized spinnerbait several times since. ``The average size fish I've caught this year is 3 pounds,'' he said. ``I've never had an average size that big before. The reason has to be that big spinnerbait.''

The skirt of Damon's spinnerbait is clear with metal flecks. He uses a ring worm trailer. ``I think it gives the impression of a school of little shad instead of one big shad,'' he said. ``I think that tricks the bass into thinking all they have to do is open their mouths and they'll be eating a lot of little fish.''

The bait also shattered the theory that the Chickahominy is a shallow-water strong hold of smaller bass.

``I think everybody always hears about all the little fish caught there and then they gear toward the littler baits to catch little fish.

``They just get locked in to that kind of thinking. I know I did. Then I read Clunn's stuff and that got me started on trying oversized stuff. All I can say is it works.''